Curacao earned its first-ever World Cup point, thanks for a heroic performance in goal by Eloy Room.
Room made 15 saves as Curacao held Ecuador to a scoreless draw at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Saturday, June 20. Room’s 15 saves represents the most in 90 minutes in a World Cup match. The United States’ Tim Howard owns the record with 16 saves, but he collected four additional saves in extra time during a 2-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup.
It’s been a rough start at the 2026 World Cup for Ecuador, which still is seeking its first goal after the 0-0 tie to Curacao and a 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast. Still, La Tri still is in contention to reach the knockout rounds, but will need to defeat Germany.
Germany, meanwhile, has won Group E. Earlier in the day, Germany earned a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Ivory Coast in Toronto.
USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights of the Ecuador vs. Curacao match:
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We are witnessing goalkeeping excellence at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Ecuador’s Hernán Galíndez punches away a goal-scoring opportunity for Curacao, whose own goalkeeper Eloy Room is making a run at Tim Howard’s World Cup saves record.
Most saves in a World Cup match:
- Tim Howard (United States, 2014): 16
- Eloy Room (Curacao, 2026): 15
- Ramón Quiroga (Peru, 1978): 13
Throw up four fingers after three quarters of the match have been completed.
Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room is up to 11 saves after denying yet another goal-scoring chance from Ecuador.
This is Tim Howard vs. Belgium in the Round of 16 in 2014 level of World Cup goalkeeping play! Howard made 16 saves in that game (12 of which came in regulation), which is a World Cup record.
In the first half, Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room had to come up big to keep the match scoreless. Fifteen minutes into the second half, Ecuador goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez had to make a clutch save to keep Curacao off the scoreboard.
This is not the collection you want to accumulate. After midfielder Juninho Bacuna earned a yellow in the 53rd minute, defender Livano Comenencia — who scored Curacao’s first-ever World Cup goal — was presented a yellow card by referee Ning Ma after a rough foul on Pedro Vite.
Salvador Perez, a nine-time All-Star and 2015 World Series winner with the Kansas City Royals, is in attendance at Arrowhead Stadium. Perez is from Venezuela and has represented the nation at the World Baseball Classic four times.
Midfielder Jordy Alcivar has been subbed off in favor of forward Kevin Rodriguez as Sebastián Beccacece opts to get another attacking option on the field.
Alcivar also was carrying a yellow card, earning it in the 38th minute after a mistimed tackle on Curacao’s Tahith Chong.
CUW is the FIFA abbreviation for Curacao.
ECU is the FIFA abbreviation for Ecuador.
Curacao is an island country located in the southern Caribbean Sea. It is located directly north of South America nation Venezuela and to the east of the island nation of Aruba.
With a population of approximately 158,000 people, Curacao is the smallest nation to ever qualify for the World Cup.
Ecuador has enjoyed a massive advantage in possession (75% to 25%) and has 6 shots on goal to Curacao’s zero. Despite all that action, Curacao has managed to keep it scoreless after 45 minutes played. A big reason for that has been the play of goalkeeper Eloy Room, who has 6 saves.
Eloy Room, who played for the Columbus Crew in MLS from 2019-2023 and currently plays for USL Championship club Miami FC (not to be confused with Inter Miami), has made a number of huge saves for Curacao in the first half against Ecuador. In the 42nd minute, he parried away a shot from Pervis Estupiñán.
Midfielder Juninho Bacuna is down and being attended to by trainers. Curacao is forced to play with 10 men at the moment.
This will be a good time to refill that tasty beverage you’re enjoying during this World Cup match.
Some nice soccering by Ecuador set up Enner Valencia just outside the 6-yard box for a shot on goal. Unfortunately for Ecuador, the team captain could not get enough oomph on the ball and Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room easily collected the shot and prevented a scoring opportunity.
Big moment early in the match at Arrowhead Stadium, as Curacao goalkeeper Eloy Room was up the challenge on a point-blank shot on goal by Ecuador’s Enner Valencia.
The game is airing on FS1, but you can also watch on Fubo or the Fox One App. Spanish language broadcasts are available on Telemundo and Peacock.
Watch every World Cup game with Fubo
The matchup kicks off at 8 pm. ET.
The Group E match is being held at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.
Germany secured its spot in the knockout rounds with its 2-1 win over Ivory Coast. It will win Group E if Ecuador does not defeat Curaçao.
After Germany’s win, Ecuador faces an elimination scenario if it loses to Curaçao. Curaçao, meanwhile, can’t be eliminated Saturday night.
The winner of Group E plays the third-place team from Groups A, B, C, D or F in the Round of 32.
Seth Vertelney: Ecuador 4 – 0 Curacao
Ecuador created plenty of chances against Ivory Coast, but couldn’t finish. The goals should flow a little easier against an overmatched Curacao team.
Jon Arnold: Ecuador 3-0 Curacao
The South Americans will be too much for Curacao, finding a way to finish and denying another beautiful moment for the Caribbean side.
Jesse Yomtov: Ecuador 3-0 Curacao
Ecuador bounces back from a loss by breaking down a Curacao side that was exposed against Germany.
Victoria Hernandez: Ecuador 2-0 Curacao
Ecuador will be hungry to redeem themselves after being upset by Ivory Coast. And Curacao’s highlight of scoring a goal against Germany won’t be enough momentum to stop them.
Starters: Hernán Galíndez, Piero Hincapié, Jordy Alcívar, Willian Pacho, Pervis Estupiñán, John Yeboah, Enner Valencia, Pedro Vite, Gonzalo Plata, Alan Franco, Moisés Caicedo
Full rosters for 2026 World Cup teams
Starters: Eloy Room, Juriën Gaari, Sherel Floranus, Juninho Bacuna, Livano Comenencia, Jürgen Locadia, Leandro Bacuna, Armando Obispo, Joshua Brenet, Tahith Chong, Deveron Fonville
Explore live group standings, stats and the updated bracket with USA TODAY Sports here.
